Splint-impregnating means for match-machines.



W. A. FAIRBUBN.

SPHNT IMPREGNATING MEANS FOR MATCH iVIACl-HPJES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY1.1'915.

1 999, Patented Feb. ma

2 SHEETS-SHEET' W. A. FAlRBURN.

SPLINT IMPREGNATING MEANS FORWMATCH MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1915.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z I 135 f c s Amman o l WILLIAM A. FAIRBURN, SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SPL INT-IMLPRFGNATING MEANS FOR MATCH-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. i PaJbentQd Feb, 112, 19118,

Application filed May 1, 1915. 1 Serial No. 25,1211

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. FAIR- BURN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Short Hills, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Splint-Impregnating Means for Match-Machines, of which the following is a specifica- 'ing property.

tion.

provisions whereby the powdered material is forcibly blown among and against the splints on the progressing splint carrier in such a manner as to incorporate the material effectively with the surface of the wood and thereby impart to the splints the requisite non-glowing property.

The invention also comprises various features of construction and combinations of partswhereby beneficial results are attained, as will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawingsa Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus embodying theprinciple of my invention; the splint carrier of the match machine being shown in crosssection.

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus, as on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; certain parts being broken away to show internal elements.

' Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section, as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring tothe drawings, 10 designates a part of a splint carrier comprising in the present illustration a series of perforated plates hinged or linked together to form an endless chain, into the perforations of which plates the match-splints are inserted'row by row and thereby transported through the match making path. Suitably-located be- This invention relates to means for treat-- neath the route of the carrier after it leaves the splint inserting station is a structure into which project'the depending splints during their travel across the structure. This structure in its preferred form' comprises oppositely inclined side walls 11 and end walls 12 arranged to provide a relatively capacious chamber within which the splints are treated with an -anti-glowing material, such, for example, as finely-divided ammonium phosphate. The upper edges of the side walls of the structure are furnished with ledges 13 upon which the longitudinal edges of the carrier are guided and supported;'and the upper portions of the end walls are open, as at 14, to permit the free'passage of the splints into, through and from the chamber. The side walls are provided longitudinally thereof with exterior air chests 15 communicating with the interior of the casing structure through numerous nozzles 16 which are so angularly disposed as to discharge the air from the respective chests in intersecting planes toward the horizontal path of the splints on the carrier. The chests are connected at one end of the structure by means of branch pipes 17 with the diverging delivery pipes 18 of a blower 19,, or other appropriate air engine, whereby air under relative high pressure is uniformly delivered to the respectiveche sts 1'5 and thence injected into the impregnating chamber.

The delivery pipes 18 terminate in two horizontal extensions 20 which are disposed adjacent the respective-sides of the casing in substantially the same horizontal plane as the splints in the carrier. The extensions 20 are provided atiintervals-with nozzles I 21 which open into ducts 22 leading from longitudinally disposed receptacles 23into the interior of the casingjadjacent the horizontal path of the spllnts. Within each of the receptacles, which are in the form of cylindrical conduits, is a jscreweconveyenfil powdered impregnating material longitudinally of the conduit into the respective ducts 22, such material being thence forcibly injected into the path of the splints by and with the blasts bf compressed air from the nozzles. The material thus inject; ed impinges forcibly against the opposing splints and is in consequen'cferwell incorporated with the surface ofthe wood in a manner to secure uniform anoli eflective impregwhich is mounted and foperated t f'ediloo has its bearings in the end walls of the casing, and that end of the shaft adjacent the fan bears a sprocket wheel 27 which is connected by means of a chain 28 with a similar wheel 29 on a shaft 30 which is appropriately geared with the power driven lower shaft 31, as, for example, by meshing bevel wheels 32, 33 respectively. Thus the conveyer is continuously driven during.

the operation of the fan, and the conveyer perforce progressively feeds the material to one end of the channel 26. Such end is pro-, vided with diverging chutes 34 which lead respectively to suitably-disposed receptacles 35 and deliver the material thereto. Mounted on sprocket wheels 36 in these receptacles are endless chain conveyers 37 which extend above and are guided and supported by suitably-disposed wheels 38 locatedadjacent the respective conduits. These conveyers travel in casings 39 extendingfrom the receptacles 35 and they (the conveyers) are appropriately arranged. and driven to carry the material from such receptacles and discharge it into the receiving end of each of the conduits 23 above referred to. In the present instance, the shaft of each of the wheels 36 is provided with a sprocket wheel 40 which is connected by means of a chain 41 with and driven from a wheel 42 on the projecting end of the shaft of the screw conveyer 25 in the bottom of the impregnating chamber; and the shaft of the screw conveyer 24 of each of the conduits 23 is conveniently geared with and driven by the shaft of the wheel 38 of the adjacent chain conveyer by means of a sprocket chain 43 passing about wheels 44, 45 on' the latter'two shafts respectively.

Arrangedabove the impregnating structure, in spaced relation to the upper surface of the splint carrier, is a cover or bonnet 46, from one end of which rises a tapering duct 47 merging with an exhaust'pipe 48 by way of which the powder escaping through the holes and spaces of the carrier, is withdrawn. A rotary brush 49 mounted at the mouth of the duct 47 so as to sweep the upper surface of the carrier,serves not onlyto prevent the escape of the powder to the open air, but also to clear the powder from the top. of the carrier as it progresses from the impregnating structure.

Although any suitable means may be employed for primarily supplying the impregnating powder to the conduits, I prefer to use for this'purpose devices of the following description 50 designates a supply hopper into which the material is introduced; and 51 designates an air and powder separator which is connected with the lower funnel-shaped discharge end of the hopper by means of a conduit This conduit is provided with a feed device, such as a conveyer screw 53, the shaft of which has its bearing in the closed outer end of the conduit, whereby when the screw is properly rotated the contents of the funnel are progressively fed into the interior of the separator 51. The lower end of the latter is funnel-shaped and it discharges into powder grinding mill 54 of any usual or approved construction, having diverging. chutes 55 leading into the receiving ends of the respective conduits 23.

'The mill herein illustrated is provided with co-acting grinding rolls 56 the shafts of which bear intermeshing gear. wheels 57. The outwardly projecting end of one (5.8)

of these shafts has fast thereon a sprocket wheel 59 which is geared by. means of a chain 6O with a similar wheel 61 on the shaft of the upper sprocket wheel .38 of one of the chain conveyers 37. The shaft 58 is also provided with a sprocket wheel 62 which isconnected by means of a chain 63" with a similar wheel 64 on the shaft of the feed screw 53. Thus the screw and the grinding rolls are driven concurrently, and

' inconsequence the material is progressively transferred from the hopper to the grinder, and is thereupon ground and delivered thence to the respective conduits 23.

The air supply pipe 65 leading to 'the in-take of the blower 19is connected with an outlet in the top of the separator, and the exhaust pipe 48 from the bonnet above the carrier is extended upward and connected with a tangent al inlet in the sldc of the separator.

powder chamber 67, such chambers being partitioned by edge spaced separating mem bers 68. An air current being established at the outletof the separator by the action of the blower, the powder-laden air is thereby drawn from'the bonnet and is caused to flow tangentially into the central chamber of the separator in a whirling current which memes impinges against the inner faces of the separating members 68, the centrifugal action causing the powder to be projected against such members and to be skimmed through the. spaces therebetween into the chamber 67. Such powder accumulating within the latter chamber, falls to the bottom thereof and passes thence to the grinder; while the filtered air flows to the blower.

A characteristic feature, of my invention as exemplified by the construction above described is that powdered impregnating material is forcibly blown against and among the splints in such a manner as to efiect' and insure the incorporation of the powder with and throughout the surface of the splints, which result it is to be noted cannot be satisfactorily attained by simply floating the powderamong the splints, as in the latter case a mere superficial dusting of the splints is had which is irregular and uncertain in its application, is ineffective in its action, and is otherwise unreliable.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction herein shown and described, as the structural features may be modified without departure from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a carrier constructed to support depending match splints in spaced relation to each other, of a structure having a chamber arranged directly beneath and adjacent to the path of the underside of the carriage, said chamber having inlet and outlet portions for the passage of the carrier, whereby the splints on the carrier pro ress into and through said chamber, and pneumatic means for forcibly projecting impregnating powder toward,

against and among the depending splints within said chamber.

2. In splint-impregnating means for match machines having a splint carrier, a structure having a chamber adapted to receive the splints during thelr travel, ducts openmg into said chamber.

impregnating powder to said ducts, nozzles projecting into said ducts and towardsaid chamber, and means for supplying air to said nozzles.

3. In splint-impregnating means for match machines having asplint carrier, a structure having a chamber adapted to receive the-splints during their travel, ducts open ing into said chamber adjacent the horizontal path of the splints, means for supplying impregnating powder to said ducts, nozzlespro-jecting into said dubts and toward said chamber, and means for supplying air to said nozzles.

4. In splint impregnating means for match machines having a splint carrier, a structure having a chamber adapted to receive the depending'splints during their travel,

means for supplying ducts opening into said chamber, means for supplying impregnating powder to said ducts, nozzles projecting into said ducts and toward said chamber, lower nozzles projecting upwardly within said chamber toward the path of the splints, and means for supplying air to the upper and lower nozzles.

5. In splint impregnating means for match machines having a splint carrier, a structure having a chamber adapted to receive the splints during their travel, a conduit having ducts at intervals communicating with the said chamber, means for supplying impregnating powder to said conduit, and pneumatic means for forcing air through said ducts and into the chamber.

6. In splint impregnating means for match machines having a splint carrier, a structure having a chamber adapted to receive the splints during their travel, conduits ad jacent the sides of the structure having ducts at intervals communicating with the said chamber, means for feeding impregnating powder along said conduits, and "pneumatic means for forcing air through said ducts and into the chamber. i

7. The combination with a carrier constructed to support depending. match splints in spaced relation to each other, of a structure having a chamber arranged directly be neath and adjacent to the path of the underside of the carrier said chamber having inlet and outlet portions for the passage of the carrier, whereby the splints on the carrier progress into and through said chamber, pneumatic means for forcibly projecting inipregnating powder toward, against and among the depending splints within said chamber, and means for removing accumulating material from the bottom of said chamber.

8. The combination with a carrier constructed to support depending match splints in spaced relation to each other, of a structure having a chamber arranged directly be neath and adjacent to the path of the underside of the carrier, said chamber having inlet and outlet portions for the passage of the carrier, whereby the splints on the carrier progress into and thr'oughsaid chamber, a receptacle for impregnating powder, said receptacle communicating with the chamber, pneumatic means for forcing the powder from said receptacle into said chamber,

means for removing accumulating powder ceive the splints during their travel, conduits adjacent the sides of the structure having ducts at intervals communicating with the said chamber, means for feeding impregnating powder along said conduit, pneumatic means for forcing air through said ducts and into the chamber, means for removing ac- 5- cuniulating powder from the bottom of said chamber, and means for returning such accumulating powder to the said conduits.

10. The combination with a carrier constructed to support depending match splints in spaced relation to each other, of a structure having a chamber arranged directly .beneath and adjacent to the path of the underside of the carrier, said chamber having inlet and outlet portions for the passage of the carrier, whereby the rier progress into and through said chamber, pneumatic means for forcibly projecting impregnating powder toward, against and;

among the depending splints within said chamber, and means above the structure for receiving and carrying ofi the powder escaping above the carrier. v a.

11. The combination with a carrier constructed to support depending match splints in spaced relation to each other, of a struct'ure having a chamber arranged directly beneathand adjacent to the path of the underside of' the carrier, said chamber havin inlet and outlet portions. carrier, whereby the splints on the carrier progress into and through said chamber,

pneumatic means for forcibly projecting impregnating powder toward,'against and oamong the depending splints within said chamber, a cover for the carrier directly above the chamber, and operative connection between the "interior of said cover and said pneumatic means.

I 12, The comb'n'ation with a carrier consplints on the car-' for the passage 0 the structed to support dependin match splints in spaced relation to veach ot er, of a structure having a chamber arranged directly beneath and adjacent to the path of the underside of the carrier, said chamber having inlet and outlet portions for the passage of-the carrier, whereby the splints on the carrier progress into and throu 11 said chamber, pneumatic means for forcibly projecting im pregnating powder toward, against and among the depending splints within said chamber, a cover for the carrier directly above the chamber, a-separator communicating with the said receptacle, a connection between said coverand the separator, and aconnectionbetween said separator and the pneumatic means.

13; The structed to support dependin match splints in spaced relation to each 0t er, ture having a chamber arranged directly beneath and adjacent to the path of the underside of the carrier, said chamber having in its upper portion inlet and outlet portlons for the passage of the carrier, whereby the splints on the carrier progress into and through said chamber, an air engine, means connected therewith whereby impregnating powder is forcibl blown into the upper portion of the chamber and across the path of the splints in their traverse through'said chamber, and means connected with said engine whereby upward air blasts directed to the splints areestablished within the cham ber. I

Signed at New York, in the county and State of New York, this 30th day of April,

' A. D. 1915. ".WILLIAM A. FAI-RBURN.

combinationwith a carrier conof a struc- 7 

